Pocket key holder



July 15, 1969 T. J. SHOFNER POCKET KEY HOLDER Filed June 1, 1967 r RP. mm mm m VJ 0 m. w A J ed M m United States Patent 3,455,131 POCKET KEY HOLDER Thomas J. Shofner, 928 E. Hyde Park Ave., St. Joseph, Mo. 64504 Filed June 1, 1967, Ser. No. 642,912 Int. Cl. A45c 11/32 US. Cl. 70-456 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a key holder adapted to be carried in the pocket and having novel means for preventing accidental withdrawal thereof from the pocket. The holder includes an elongated sheath having a pair of slides mounted therein and projecting from the ends thereof, and being adjustable so that the overall length thereof spans the width of the pocket. One edge of each slide is roughened so as to engage and become fouled with the cloth of the pocket so that the holdercannot easily be removed from the pocket, while the opposite edge of each slide is smooth and rounded to permit comparatively easy removal of the holder from the pocket.

This application relates to new and useful improvements in key holders, and has particular reference to key holders adapted to be carried loose in the pocket of the user.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a key holder of the character described having novel means for releasably securing it in the pocket to prevent accidental removal and subsequent loss thereof, by requiring conscious effort and some manipulation by the user before it can be removed from the pocket. Generally this object is accomplished by the use of an elongated flat sheath having a slide mounted in and projecting outwardly from each end thereof. The slides are adjustable in the sheath so that the overall length of the combination can be made to approximate the width of the pocket, in the position in which said holder normally rests in the pocket. One edge of each slide is parallel to the sheath and roughened, while the opposite edge is rounded. If the roughened edges lead as an attempt to withdraw the holder, said roughened edges become fouled with the cloth of the pocket to resist such withdrawal, but if the holder is turned so that the rounded edges of the slides lead, it may be withdrawn with comparative case.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, etfieiency and dependability of operation, and low cost.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specifications, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a key holder embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the key holder as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of FIG. 1, with parts left in elevation, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IVIV with parts left in elevation and partially broken away.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, the key holder shows therein consisting principally of a sheath 2 and a pair of slides 4. Sheath 2 is elongated, generally fiat, and is open at both ends. It may be formed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material, such as plastic or leather. As shown, it consists of rectangular top and bottom panels 6 which are parallel but spaced apart by spacer strips 8 disposed between the longer edges thereof, said panels and spacer strips being permanently secured in assembly by rivets 10. Said sheath also could be an integral one-piece structure, produced by a moulding process or the like.

Each of slides 4 consists of a flat strip having a crosssectional contour adapting it for sliding engagement in the interior passage 12 of sheath 2. Said slides are inserted in said sheath as shown, projecting outwardly from respectively opposite ends of said sheath. Each slide is retained in position by a bolt 14 which projects through a pair of matching holes 16 (see FIG. 4) formed in panels 6 of the sheath, and selectively through any one of a series of holes 18 formed in the associated slide 4. Holes 18 of each slide are arranged in a line extending parallel to the axis of the sheath so that by inserting bolts 14 in dilferent holes 18 of the slides the degree of projection of said slides from the ends of the sheath may be adjusted. One of the longitudinal edges 19 of each slide extends parallel to the sheath axis, and is preferably roughened by the formation of notches 20 therein, while the opposite longitudinal edge of each slide is smoothly rounded as indicated at 22, so that each slide has a sharp corner 24 at its outer end and adjacent one of the longitudinal edges of the sheath. For reasons to be discussed, it has been found that a thick shoe sole leather is an advantageous material from which to form the slides.

Keys may be attached to the sheath-slide assembly by any suitable means. For example, keys 26 may be laid flat against the exterior sides of sheath panels 6, and secured by inserting bolts 14 through the key ring holes 28 (see FIG. 4) of said keys. Each key may then be rotated on its associated bolt either to lie entirely over the sheath as best shown in FIG. 1, or to extend outwardly from the edge of the sheath for use. Also, a hole 30 may be formed through an edge of the sheath, for receiving an ordinary key chain 32. Of course, hole 30 should be so positioned that chain 32 does not intersect sheath passage 12 and hence cannot interfere with the adjusting movement of the slides.

In use, the device is prepared by removing bolts 14 and moving slides 4 inwardly or outwardly in the sheath until the overall length of the device, between the distal ends of slides 4, is equal to or slightly greater than the width of the pocket in which the holder is to be carried, taking into consideration the position in which the holder will normally rest when carried in the pocket. Bolts 14 are then reinserted, to engage the holes 18 of said slides then matching with holes 16 of the sheath panels. When inserting the holder into the pocket, it is preferably arranged so that the notched edges 19 of the slides face toward the mouth of the pocket. The generally fiat configuration of the sheath will tend to hold it in this position by engagement thereof between the cloth walls of the pocket, which in turn is most commonly held flat against the body of the wearer.

It will be seen that if any attempt is then made to pull the holder from the pocket the sharp corners 24 and notched edges 19 of the slides tend to pull and bunch the cloth of the pocket, causing such fouling or entanglement therebetween as to render complete withdrawal of the holder from the pocket quite diflicult, and extremely unlikely to occur by accident, as when removing other articles from the same pocket. This bunching and fouling with the pocket cloth is rendered still more positive if the slides are so adjusted that the distance between their distal ends is slightly greater than the width of the pocket, so that they normally distend the pocket slightly in a direction parallel to the sheath axis. The pocket cloth is then held firmly against corners 24 of the slides at all times, so that any attempt to move them relatively will certainly result in pulling and bunching of the cloth. In this connection, it has been found that a thick, stout leather is an advantageous material from which to form the slides,

since while it is sufiiciently strong and hard to perform the functions just described, it has a surface softness which renders actual tearing or other damage of the cloth of the pocket thereby unlikely. It also provides a satisfactory degree of friction with the pocket cloth, to further enhance the pulling and bunching of the cloth.

When it is desired actually to remove the key holder from the pocket, the sheath 2 is grasped manually in the pocket and turned 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis, whereby the rounded edges 22 of slides 4 are caused to face toward the mouth of the pocket. This change of position is not likely to occur by accident, since as described above the engagement of the fiat configuration of the sheath between the cloth walls of the pocket tends to prevent it, but it can be accomplished easily by manual manipulation. With rounded edges 22 confronting the mouth of the pocket, corners 24 and roughened edges 19 of the slides are inoperative to resist movement of the holder from the pocket, and withdrawal can be accomplished with comparative ease.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made within the purview of the invention. For example one of the members 4 need not be a slide at all, and need not be adjustable, but could be permanently aflixed to or integral with the sheath. The sheath could be dispensed with, and the slides attached directly and adjustably together to form a single elongated member of variable length. The keys could be attached by means other than those shown. In fact, the sheath and slide assembly need not have keys attached throughout all, but could be attached, as by chain 32, to any article the accidental loss of which from a pocket is desired to be prevented. It is considered that these as well as other variations could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A pocket key holder comprising:

(a) an elongated member adapted to be inserted in a pocket and having a length approximately equal to the transverse width of said pocket, said member be ing generally planar in a direction transverse to its length, whereby to have a generally flat, rectangular form, said member having sharp corners at each end of one of the longitudinal edges thereof, and the two corners thereof at the opposite ends of the other longitudinal edge thereof being smoothly rounded, the end portions of the longitudinal edge of said member which terminates in said sharp cornerrs being roughened, and

(b) means for attaching keys to said member.

2. A pocket key holder as recited in claim 1 with the addition of means operable to adjust the length of said member.

3. A pocket key holder comprising:

(a) an elongated member adapted to be inserted into a pocket and having a length approximately equal to the transverse width of said pocket, said member comprising an elongated tubular sheath, a slide disposed slidably in each end portion of said sheath and extending outwardly therefrom, and means for securing each of said slides in said sheath selectively at diiferent degrees of extension from said sheath, whereby to adjust the length of said member, and

(b) means for attaching keys to said member.

4. A pocket key holder as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for securing each of said slides in said sheath comprises a bolt extending through said sheath transversely of said slide, and engaged selectively in any of a series of holes formed in said slide in longitudinally spaced relation therealong.

5. A pocket key holder as recited in claim 4 wherein said bolts extend externally of said sheath and extend through key ring holes of keys, thereby constituting said means for attaching said keys to said member.

6. A pocket key holder as recited in claim 3 wherein said sheath and said slides are of flattened cross-sectional contour, one longitudinal edge of each slide being roughened and terminating at its outer end in a sharp corner and the opposite longitudinal edge of each slide blending in a smooth convex curvature with the transverse edge of said slide at the outer end thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2, 198,110 4/1940 Fischer -456 2,344,581 3 1944 Ziegeweid 70-45 6 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner 

